Game apparatus.



PATENTED 0021:. 11,1904.

J. G. CAIRNS.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED OCT. 11, 1904.

J. G. CAIRNS. GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

2 y I w WITNEEIEEE:

UNITED STATES Patented October 11, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '771,895,dated October 11, 1904. Application filed June 10,1904. Serial No. 211,972. (No model.)

To (tZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. CAIRNS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This is a game apparatus adapted for indoor or outdoor use and to be suspended from the opposite walls of a room or from a pair of standards or posts; and it comprises a netting divided into two courts, end frames, a central frame between the courts and provided with a substantially horizontal trough, side cords extending from the end frames to the trough, cross-cords over each court, and-supportingcords.

In playing the game a ball which rests on the netting in one court is struck from the under side through the mesh by means of a mallet, and is thereby knocked up over one cross-cord after another until it is finally landed in the trough.

The nature of the invention is fully described in detail below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of my game apparatus in position for use. Fig. 2 is a view.

of the pick or mallet which is employed in striking the ball. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section in detail, illustrating the position of the pick when striking the ball and the course of the ball while the game is being played.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In this apparatus there are three upright frames, a central frame and two end frames. Each end frame consists of two vertical posts a, an upper cross-bar b, and a lower cross-bar c. The central frame consists of two upright posts (Z, a lower cross-bar e, and a trough g,

said trough consisting of two side walls inclined toward each other, as shown,and preferably without any bottom. This trough is of suitable width to sustain a ball f on its upper edges and prevent it from dropping through. A netting it extends from one crossbar 0 over the cross-bar e to the other crossbar 0, and the mesh of this netting is large enough to retain the ball within one of its open squares and prevent it from rolling, but not sufficiently large to allow the ball to drop through.

To each post a in one end frame there is secured a cord or rope is, which extends to an eye Z on the upperend of the post (Z on that side and is secured to the said eye in any suitable manner and thence extends and is secured to the corresponding post a of the other end frame. By the above-described construction the device is divided into two courts or fields on opposite sides of an imaginary line drawn transversely across the netting directly under the trough g, and over each court there are horizontal cross-cords n, preferably three in number, extending from one cord 70 to the other and parallel with each other and with the trough g and cross-bar b.

The device is sustained and suspended at the desired height-say approximately the height of the shoulders of the playersby means of three cords at each endnarnely, the cord 39, which extends from the central portion of the cross-bar c to an eye 9", and the two cords s, which extend from the upper portions of the posts a to said eye in line with the cords u, extending from the upper portions of the posts a to the lower portions of the posts (Z, the eye itself being caught over a suitable hook on on any suitable post, as t, or the hook may be secured to any suitable Wall or support. These cords are of suitable length to lift the frame d e a little in order that there maybe a slight upgrade from the cross-bars 0 to the cross-bar 0. This is for the purpose of pre venting the ball during play from rolling toward the central frame.

'21 represents the head, and w the handle, of a picker or striking-mallet.

In operation, the ball f having been placed on the netting near one end, the player at that end takes the picker and holds it under the netting and strikes the ball from the under side, swinging the picker upward and striking the ball through the mesh, with the object of sending the ball over the first cross-cord n and allowing it to drop to the netting in the same court between said cross-cord and the next one. This is continued in the manner with the fewest number of strokes.

The apparatus may be placed at any desired height which is most convenient for making the upward-swinging strokes of the pick.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In agame apparatus of the character described, a central trough and a frame supporting the trough; upright end frames on opposite sides of the trough; netting connecting the lower portions of the trough-frame and the two end frames; cords or ropes connecting the upper portions of the end frames with the trough; and means for supporting the apparatus in a raised position, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a game apparatus of the character described, a central trough, and a vertical frame supporting the trough; upright end frames on opposite sides of the trough; netting connecting the lower portions of the trough-frame and the end frames; cords or ropes connecting the upper portions of the end frames with the trough; cross-cords connecting the said cords or ropes between the trough and the opposite end frames; and means for supporting the apparatus in a raised position, for the purpose set forth.

3. The herein-d escribed improved game apparatus, comprising the flaring trough g the central supporting-frame (Z, a the end frames (0,6,0 a netting connecting the lower portions of the trough-frame and the two end frames; the cords or ropes 7r; connecting the outer ends of the end frames and the trough; the crosscords 02/ supported by the cords k on opposite sides of the trough; the lifting-cords a eX- tending from the lower portion of the central frame to the upper portions of the end frames; the supporting-cords 8 extending outward from the upper portions of the end frames; and the supporting-cordsp extending outward from the lower portions of the end frames, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. CAIRNS. Witnesses:

HENRY WV. WVILLIAMs, A. K. HooD. 

